Hyperbolic Time Chamber: Training Mode Guide Pt. 1

A little while back, I got some warm words of encouragement from Gootecks on twitter [@gootecks], and he proposed a question as to how I could make more of these guides for players. I was honest with him and said the biggest block for me is actually finding good ideas to write about. In less than a few seconds he responded with quite a few topics. So you guys can thank him for these. The first one and the purpose of this next series of guides will be on how to effectively use training mode. One of the biggest overlooked aspects of improving is the genuinely using Training mode to improve. So below I’ll go over some of the reasons you should use training mode, and even give some examples as to how you can get started right away! This one will again be a 3-part series, so stay tuned and check back next week.

So you open up training mode, you fiddle around with your character a few times. Maybe do a few combos until that big yawn hits you. That means it’s time to stop boring yourself, and hit up online or go to a friends and play a couple.

WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!

You’re doing it all wrong. Training mode is an AMAZINGLY useful way to learn and improve your Street Fighter game, and all this time you’ve been just glossing over it. Shame on you. Well today you’re going to learn to maximize your training mode time. First off there are three reasons we do training in Fighting Games.

Training for repetition

Training for understanding

Training for creation

Each of these is different in their own right, but will strengthen an important aspect of your street fighter game. Let’s first start with repetition. You probably have a good idea of what this one entails, but stick with it.

Perhaps the most widely known use for training mode, this is solely for improving execution skill. Regardless of whether you practice a combo or a set-up, the purpose of this training is to build and reinforce muscle memory. The goal of this kind of training should be consistency. If you can consistently perform a combo or a set-up you will develop a kind of internal timing so that at a moments notice in an actual match should also have no problem executing.

My Repetition Regimen:

Start by trying to perform a combo or set up on the side you feel most comfortable with [left or right side of the opponent]. Your goal should be to perform the combo or set-up 10 times in a row, without fail. If you make a mistake, restart your count at zero. The goal is 10 times consecutively, accept nothing less.

Once completed, switch sides [relative to the opponent] and perform the set-up or combo again 10 times consecutively without fail. Again, if you make a mistake, restart your count at zero.

Finally once, you’ve completed the combo or set-up on your non-dominant side, switch sides again and then perform the combo or set-up on alternating sides. To be more clear, once on the right, then once on the left, repeating. You should do this a total of ten times [5 times on the left, 5 times on the right]. Again if you make a mistake, start back from zero.

Repeat this kind of training as you feel necessary and stay tuned for part-2 next week! Happy Training!